Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump

Floating ring seals are widely used as a leakage control solution for turbomachines because they effectively operate with small clearances between the shaft and seal. The oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf liquid engine in the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II) operates at high rotational speeds and u...

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Main Authors: Joon-Hwan Bae, Hyun-Duck Kwak, Sung-Jae Heo, Chang-Ho Choi, Jong-Soo Choi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Aerospace
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/11/667
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author Joon-Hwan Bae
Hyun-Duck Kwak
Sung-Jae Heo
Chang-Ho Choi
Jong-Soo Choi
author_facet Joon-Hwan Bae
Hyun-Duck Kwak
Sung-Jae Heo
Chang-Ho Choi
Jong-Soo Choi
author_sort Joon-Hwan Bae
collection DOAJ
description Floating ring seals are widely used as a leakage control solution for turbomachines because they effectively operate with small clearances between the shaft and seal. The oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf liquid engine in the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II) operates at high rotational speeds and under cryogenic conditions and has floating ring seals in the bearing cooling path to reduce leakages. In this study, we evaluated the frictional force acting on the nose of the floating ring in the oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf turbopump using numerical analysis, and we investigated the radial force on the floating ring induced by the vibration of the rotor and the flow characteristics around the floating ring seal. Through a comparison of the frictional and floating forces according to the change in the diameter of the floating ring noses, we also estimated the dynamic positioning of the floating ring. In addition, we examined the leakage of the floating ring seals with the rotational speed and gap size of the floating ring, and we used the results as data for designing a floating ring seal. Finally, we performed turbopump real-propellant tests with the floating ring seal of the high and the middle noses, finding that the test result was in good agreement with the results of numerical analysis.
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spelling doaj.art-dfa1ce8e144847f5a09de9cd9479b4692023-11-24T03:15:30ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102022-10-0191166710.3390/aerospace9110667Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in TurbopumpJoon-Hwan Bae0Hyun-Duck Kwak1Sung-Jae Heo2Chang-Ho Choi3Jong-Soo Choi4Turbopump Team, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, 169-84 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, KoreaTurbopump Team, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, 169-84 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, KoreaTurbopump Team, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, 169-84 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, KoreaTurbopump Team, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, 169-84 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, KoreaDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, KoreaFloating ring seals are widely used as a leakage control solution for turbomachines because they effectively operate with small clearances between the shaft and seal. The oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf liquid engine in the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II) operates at high rotational speeds and under cryogenic conditions and has floating ring seals in the bearing cooling path to reduce leakages. In this study, we evaluated the frictional force acting on the nose of the floating ring in the oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf turbopump using numerical analysis, and we investigated the radial force on the floating ring induced by the vibration of the rotor and the flow characteristics around the floating ring seal. Through a comparison of the frictional and floating forces according to the change in the diameter of the floating ring noses, we also estimated the dynamic positioning of the floating ring. In addition, we examined the leakage of the floating ring seals with the rotational speed and gap size of the floating ring, and we used the results as data for designing a floating ring seal. Finally, we performed turbopump real-propellant tests with the floating ring seal of the high and the middle noses, finding that the test result was in good agreement with the results of numerical analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/11/667liquid rocket engineturbopumpliquid oxygenfloating ring sealnosenumerical analysis
spellingShingle Joon-Hwan Bae
Hyun-Duck Kwak
Sung-Jae Heo
Chang-Ho Choi
Jong-Soo Choi
Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump
Aerospace
liquid rocket engine
turbopump
liquid oxygen
floating ring seal
nose
numerical analysis
title Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump
title_full Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump
title_fullStr Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump
title_full_unstemmed Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump
title_short Numerical and Experimental Study of Nose for LOx Floating Ring Seal in Turbopump
title_sort numerical and experimental study of nose for lox floating ring seal in turbopump
topic liquid rocket engine
turbopump
liquid oxygen
floating ring seal
nose
numerical analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/11/667
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AT hyunduckkwak numericalandexperimentalstudyofnoseforloxfloatingringsealinturbopump
AT sungjaeheo numericalandexperimentalstudyofnoseforloxfloatingringsealinturbopump
AT changhochoi numericalandexperimentalstudyofnoseforloxfloatingringsealinturbopump
AT jongsoochoi numericalandexperimentalstudyofnoseforloxfloatingringsealinturbopump